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Gegard Mousasi Bio
Gegard Mousasi (born Geghard Movsesian, Armenian: Գեղարդ Մովսեսյան, born 1 August 1985), is a Dutch mixed martial artist and kickboxer currently competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is fighting out of Team Jurojin in Leiden, Netherlands and is a member of Russian Red Devil Sport Club and Netherlands' Golden Glory. He is the former Dream Light Heavyweight champion, former Dream Middleweight Champion, Cage Warriors Middleweight Champion and the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion. Mousasi is currently ranked as the #10 light heavyweight fighter in the UFC official rankings.
Mixed martial arts career [edit]
Early life and career [edit]
Mousasi was born in Tehran, Iran to ethnic Armenian parents during the Iran–Iraq War. At the age of 4, Mousasi and his family relocated to Leiden, Netherlands, where he finished grade school before developing an interest in martial arts.
He started practicing Judo at the age of 8 and later boxing at age 15; twelve months later he became the amateur boxing champion of the Netherlands with a 12-1 record, earning 9 knockouts. He then switched to kickboxing and then eventually to mixed martial arts.
Pride FC Welterweight Grand Prix [edit]
In 2006 Mousasi signed with Pride FC to take part in Pride's Welterweight Grand Prix. In the opening round Mousasi faced Makoto Takimoto, at Pride Bushido 11, beating the Japanese fighter by TKO as the result of a broken eye socket in the first round. In the quarter-finals Mousasi went on to face Akihiro Gono, but was submitted in the second round by an armbar. After losing to Gono, Mousasi fought Hector Lombard in the Grand Prix Alternate bout and took a unanimous decision victory over the Cuban fighter.
Dream Middleweight Grand Prix [edit]
In the first round of the Dream's 2008 Middleweight Grand Prix at Dream 2, Gegard defeated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Denis Kang by triangle choke. Kang had defeated Gono in the semifinals of the Pride Welterweight Grand Prix. In the second round of the tournament, at Dream 4, Mousasi won a decision victory over Dong Sik Yoon and advanced to the final round, which took place at Dream 6. There he fought and submitted K-1 veteran Melvin Manhoef in the semi-finals before meeting up with submission specialist Ronaldo Souza in the final. Mousasi defeated Souza by an upkick after being taken down by the Brazilian, thus becoming the first Dream Middleweight Champion and 2008 Middleweight Grand Prix tournament winner. Souza went on to win the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship.
ADCC Championships [edit]
In November 21, 2008, ADCC Europe president Marko Leistén confirmed the signing of Mousasi as one of 2009's ADCC Championships. It was rumored he would fight in the under 88KG. For unknown reasons, Mousasi never participated in the ADCC 2009 Championships.
M-1 Global [edit]
Gegard Mousasi next made an appearance at M-1 Global's Breakthrough event at August 28, 2009, where he sparred with former Pride Heavyweight and current WAMMA Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko, a friend and teammate, in an exhibition match. The two friends fought a competitive and friendly spirited exhibition with several Judo throws from both Emelianenko and Mousasi. Mousasi was defeated with a straight armbar.
In February 2010, Mousasi left M-1 Global Management. Mousasi was quoted as saying "After careful consideration, I have decided that it is in my best interest to part ways with M-1 Global," Mousasi wrote in the e-mail. "During the time I spent under their wing, M-1 Global, as a promoter and management company, allowed me to achieve many great things. I appreciate all they have done for me. My management is being taken care of by someone close to me."
Dream Super Hulk Grand Prix [edit]
In interviews from early 2009, Mousasi stated the weight he put on after winning Dream's middleweight tournament was too much for him to cut back down to middleweight and that his next fights would be at light-heavyweight and eventually heavyweight instead.
Then he signed for a place at Dream's openweight Grand Prix, the Super Hulk Grand Prix, being schedule to face Mark Hunt in the opening round. Mousasi submitted Hunt in the first round of the Super Hulk Grand Prix at Dream 9. Mousasi was then expected to face Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at Dream 11, but he had to step down due to injury.
Affliction [edit]
Mousasi was set to fight Renato "Babalu" Sobral at Affliction: Trilogy on August 1, 2009, but the event was cancelled after losing its main event 10 days prior to the event. It was originally planned for him to face Vitor Belfort at that event, but there was a disagreement between both fighters over which weight class the fight would be fought at.
Strikeforce and Dream [edit]
On Monday July 27, 2009 it was announced that the cancelled bout between Sobral and Mousasi would take place on the August 15 Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg card and the fight became a contest for the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship. Mousasi defeated Sobral via KO in the first minute of the first round to become the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion.
Mousasi would go on to win his second Strikeforce bout by TKO (strikes), three minutes and forty-three seconds into the 2nd round against Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, who Mousasi was previously supposed to fight at Dream 11, on November 7, 2009 at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers. Mousasi was originally slated to defend his Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship, but eventually competed in a non-title bout.
Mousasi quickly defeated journeyman Gary Goodridge under MMA rules at Dynamite!! 2009.
On April 17, 2010, Mousasi lost the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship belt in his first defense to Muhammed "Mo" Lawal by way of unanimous judge's decision after Lawal landed 11 of 14 takedowns. Mousasi had outlanded Lawal in Total Punches 171 to 125 however, the majority of those strikes were thrown and landed while he was on his back which generate less power.
Dream Light Heavyweight Grand Prix [edit]
The 1st round took place at Dream 15, where Mousasi faced Jake O'Brien, who came overweight to their bout. Dream officials made it a catchweight fight, but allowed the fight to be part of the tournament. Mousasi won the fight early in the first round by submission via guillotine choke. In the final, Mousasi faced Tatsuya Mizuno. Mousasi dominated the whole fight and finished the Japanese fighter in the first round by submission via rear naked choke.
Last of Strikeforce [edit]
Mousasi was expected to face Mike Kyle on April 9, 2011 at Strikeforce 33. However, Kyle was forced off the card with an injury and was replaced by Keith Jardine. The fight resulted in a majority draw, mainly due to an illegal upkick in the first which resulted in a point deduction for Mousasi. According to Fightmetric statistics, Mousasi outstruck Jardine 146 to 21. After the fight in an interview with Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting.com, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker stated “I’ve got a lot of respect for Keith Jardine, but I think Gegard won the fight.” In the same interview, Coker also stated that a rematch between Mousasi and Jardine was definitely a possibility for the future. MMA Fighting.com named this fight their Runner-Up for "Robbery of the Half-Year."
Mousasi returned to Strikeforce to face Ovince St. Preux on December 17, 2011 at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal. He won the fight via unanimous decision, showing improved takedown defense and wrestling.
Mousasi was expected to face Mike Kyle at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, but Kyle once again withdrew due to injury.
Mousasi was later recovering from knee surgery following a torn ACL and was expected to fully recover by November, 2012. He also signed a new contract for six more fights with the organization, making a total of seven. However, with Strikeforce having shut down, this contract was likely now null and void.
Mousasi faced Mike Kyle at Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine on January 12, 2013. He won via submission in the first round. This was the fourth time a fight between Mousasi and Kyle was scheduled and the first time it wasn't canceled.
Ultimate Fighting Championship [edit]
On January 15, 2013, the UFC announced Mousasi would be joining 19 other Strikeforce fighters in a move to the UFC after his win over Mike Kyle at the promotion's last event, Strikeforce: Marquardt vs Saffiedine.
Mousasi was expected to make his promotional debut against Alexander Gustafsson on April 6, 2013 at UFC on Fuel TV 9. However, on March 30, Gustafsson suffered a cut in training and, on April 2, was deemed unclear to participate by the Swedish MMA Federation. Gustafsson was replaced by Ilir Latifi, a UFC newcomer and training partner of Gustafsson. Mousasi won the fight by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). He fought with an injured knee and underwent surgery after the fight. UFC President Dana White praised Mousasi for going through with the fight injured and in his opponents home, as well as accepting a late change of opponents.
As of 18 April, Mousasi was thinking about dropping to Middleweight.
Kickboxing career [edit]
K-1 Dynamite!! 2008 [edit]
In somewhat of a surprise to the MMA world, Mousasi agreed to take on Japanese K-1 fighter Musashi in a K-1 rules fight at Dynamite!! 2008. Being an open weight fight Mousasi weighed in at 97.8kg/216lb, all but confirming his desire to move up in weight classes. Mousasi stated after winning the Dream Middleweight Grand Prix he would no longer fight at middleweight due to the large weight cut. Mousasi was the rank outsider to win the match against the more experienced Musashi, but came out fast and scored a first round KO. Mousasi went undefeated in 2008, going 6–0 in MMA and 1–0 in K-1.
K-1 Dynamite!! 2010 [edit]
After a lot of speculation about Mousasi's opponent for 2010 New Year's Eve, Mousasi was set to face Kyotaro, the K-1 Heavyweight Champion, in a K-1 rules bout. The Armenian brought the fight to Kyotaro and in the second round Mousasi knocked the Japanese fighter down, almost finishing him. Mousasi then won a unanimous decision victory from the judges.
2012 Summer Olympics [edit]
It was revealed on January 31, 2011 that Mousasi was considering trying out for the 2012 Summer Olympics at the category of boxing. Mousasi would try to qualify himself through Netherlands qualifiers. His management said that it would make him a better fighter. Mousasi is already known in amateur boxing, being a former Netherlands amateur boxing champion.
Following an injury and the signing of a new contract with Strikeforce, he gave up interest in competing in the Olympics.
Championships and accomplishments [edit]
Mixed martial arts [edit]
- Strikeforce
- Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)
- Fastest stoppage in a Strikeforce title bout (1:00; vs. Renato Sobral)
- DREAM
- DREAM Middleweight Championship (One time; First; Last; Only)
- DREAM Light Heavyweight Championship (One time; First; Last; Only)
- 2008 DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix Champion
- 2010 DREAM Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Champion
- First combatant to win DREAM Championships in multiple weight classes (Two)
- First combatant to win DREAM Grand Prix in multiple weight classes (Two)
- Cage Warriors Fighting Championship
- Cage Warriors Middleweight Championship (One time)
- World MMA Awards
- 2009 European Fighter of the Year
- Inside MMA
- 2008 Biggest Breakthrough Bazzie Award
- Bleacher Report
- 2008 Fighter of the Year
Amateur Boxing [edit]
- Nederlandse Boks Bond
- Netherlands Amateur Boxing National Championship (2001)
